Sex Abuse Scare at Obama Kids' School: Sidwell Friends Teacher Robert Peterson Charged, Dismissed

By: Carlin DeGuerin Miller
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP)

SILVER SPRING, Md. (CBS/AP) A teacher at the elite institution where President Obama's children, Sasha and Malia, go to school has been charged with sex abuse of a minor and is out on $250,000 bond.

The private D.C.-area school, Sidwell Friends, attended by the children of many of Washington's elite, announced Jan. 20 that it placed Robert Peterson of Silver Spring, Md., on leave before the school year began and dismissed him Jan. 14.

Montgomery County charging documents state that the 65-year-old Peterson, who taught seventh and eighth grades, repeatedly invited a male student to his home, showed him pornography and touched him inappropriately. He is charged with sex abuse of a minor and a fourth-degree sex offense.

Peterson's attorney says they expect to challenge the charges.

Peterson also faces charges in Queen Anne's County, where he was director of the Sidwell Friends' summer camp.

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by batchitcrazy January 22, 2010 3:32 PM EST: @ barcar55.... you have been reported for your comment.
Have a nice day.; Reply to this comment


by triumph111 January 21, 2010 5:47 PM EST: This is happening all over the country. Go to www.schoolteachernews.com and click on the Scandal page. This year they have already documented over 30 of these types of incidents. They also have a map of where the incidents have taken place. In 2009 they found 464 of these kinds of cases.; Reply to this comment